GreenWays to Work

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Project Outline:-

The Innovation, Transnational and Mainstreaming strand of the European Social Fund (ESF) supports a small number of strategic, regional projects looking to develop and deliver new ways of extending employment opportunities and raising workforce skills.

In 2009 Impact Housing were successful in tendering for the opportunity to deliver skills for climate change through a project called GreenWays to Work. The 3 year programme began in August 2009 and at the mid point has received a positive evaluation report recognizing the early achievement of objectives and outcomes and overall programme quality.

Building on a track record of providing practical work-based training, notably in recycling, the project has already developed and is currently delivering innovative training packages in the three key areas of energy efficiency, renewable energy and recycling, benefitting both the local workforce and those experiencing fuel poverty.

GreenWays to Work is testing the potential that a housing provider has to bring about beneficial change to its local communities As a social landlord Impact is concerned about the welfare of its residents and the long-term needs of the communities in which they live; with trained neighbourhood teams and floating support staff in daily contact with tenants there arises an ideal opportunity to advise low income households on energy efficiency and, as a result, reduce fuel costs for those homes.

The project was also recognised as an opportunity to bring structure to the training opportunities that have been a fundamental part of Impact’s Furniture Services, a recycling and reuse project which operates from four sites in Cumbria.

 In addition to the delivery of energy awareness and recycling training, the project is working closely with other Cumbrian organisations to provide opportunities in renewable technologies and low carbon build training. 

 

Key data

• Region: North West
• Sub-regions: Cumbria
• Objective: Competitiveness and employment
• Priority area: 2: Developing a skilled and adaptable workforce
• Themes:
• Climate change
• Skills for Climate Change and Sustainable Development
• Co-financer: ITM
• Lead partner: Impact Housing
• Partner organisations: Impact Housing, National Energy Action, Cumbria Woodlands, North West Community Waste Projects
• Key sectors:
• Energy and water
• Activities:
• Key target groups:
• Environment or environmental sustainability
• Funding: £806,784
• Start date: 01/08/2009
•  End date: 01/04/2012

 

Project impact

Over a period of three years, the project aims to give energy advice to more than 2500 households, and to train 310 people (in total) in the skills required for renewables, energy efficiency and recycling in Cumbria.

The particular expertise that will be gained from transnational working will be:

• the development of skills for recycling
• the development of supply chains for renewable energy, particularly bio-energy
•  building public awareness and commitment for environmental technologies.